The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced the shortlist for its 2026 class of inductees on Wednesday. The shortlist includes a 1990s pop diva, heavy metal pioneers and a legendary R&B singer and producer. Although ten of the 17 nominees are being considered for the first time, none of the artists on the list are newly eligible for the recognition. According to the Rock Hall’s guidelines, artists have to be at least 25 years out from the release of their first commercial recording to be eligible for induction. Official inductees will be revealed in April.

Mariah Carey | It’s safe to say the Rock Hall is obsessed with Mariah Carey — 2026 marks her third consecutive year nominated for induction.

Lauryn Hill | How ‘The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill’ Taught Me To Love Blackness It’s hard to overstate Lauryn Hill’s impact on hip-hop and neo soul, both as a member of the Fugees and as a solo artist. The first rapper to ever win a Grammy for album of the year in 1999 for her paradigm-shifting album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Luther Vandross | In addition to working as a producer for A-listers like Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, Luther Vandross became an R&B and soul legend for the sheer power of his own voice beginning in the 1980s.

New Edition | Formed in Boston in 1978, New Edition set the standard for what modern boy bands could look and sound like. With R&B hits like “Candy Girl,” “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man,” the quintet’s original lineup and later vocalist Johnny Gill are all first-time nominees for Rock Hall induction.

Wu-Tang Clan | The Rock Hall has made a concerted effort to expand the definition of rock icons in past years, particularly when it comes to hip-hop — so it’s no wonder Wu-Tang Clan is in the running.

Sade | The English band named after lead vocalist Sade Adu changed the sonic landscape of the 1980s and ’90s with its blend of jazz, soul and R&B.

Others nominees include: THE BLACK CROWES, Jeff Buckley, Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, P!NK, Shakira, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge.